Remembrance Day for victims of NATO aggression against Republika Srpska

Chair of the SNSD Caucus in the House of Representatives of the BiH Parliamentary AssemblyStaša Košarac, has thanked the Government of Republika Srpska and the parliamentary Committee for nurturing the tradition of liberation wars for accepting his proposal to mark September 9 as Remembrance Day for victims of NATO bombing.

“I would like to thank everyone who participated in the implementation of this initiative, especially the journalists and editors of the News Agency SRNA, who launched this story last year and published a series of texts about the consequences of NATO aggression against Republika Srpska,” said Košarac.

He has stresses in his SRNA statement that the military and civilian victims of the NATO bombing during which depleted uranium was used and the consequences of which are still felt by Republika Srpska residents, deserve to be commemorated with dignity and under the auspices of Republika Srpska institutions.

Košarac recalled the fact that, by bombing of Republika Srpska in 1994 and 1995, NATO used military force for the first time since the formation of that Alliance.

“Serbs were the first victims of NATO aggression and use of military force without a United Nations’ decision. This must never be forgotten, just as that the fact that nearly three tons of depleted uranium being dropped on the military and civilian facilities, is an unprecedented crime. Today, when we are discussing NATO integrations, every Serb politician should remember these facts, as well as the provisions of the Republika Srpska National Assembly’s Resolution on Military Neutrality,” said Košarac.

He added that victims of NATO aggression and their families deserve justice, adequate punishment for criminals and compensation from NATO member states.

“The least that the Republika Srpska institutions expect is a proper apology by NATO member states for the crime committed against civilians here. Instead of an apology, there is a political pressure and blackmails to go further in the NATO integration process at all costs. Such pressures and blackmails will not give any results,” Košarac said.

The Remembrance Day for victims of NATO bombing in Republika Srpska, which killed 46 soldiers and more than 50 civilians, marked in East Ilidža and East Novo Sarajevo on Monday.

Remembrance Day for victims of the NATO bombing in Republika Srpska is the 27th in the calendar marking the most important dates of the history of the Serb people from this region. The proposal to give this event a republican significance was made by the MP in the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH, Staša Košarac.

On November 23 last year, Košarac submitted to the parliamentary Committee tasked with nurturing tradition of liberation wars a proposal to make September 9 the Day of Remembrance for NATO bombing victims, in line with an initiative earlier launched by the Republika Srpska News Agency – SRNA.

In a letter to the Committee, he then reminded that SRNA had taken the initiative and published a series of texts perpetuating testimonies about NATO aggression in Republika Srpska and victims of depleted uranium.

Serb member of the BiH Presidency Milorad Dodik tells SRNA that by bombing, first of all, Republika Srpska and then Serbia, NATO has written the most shameful pages of history on the European continent since the end of World War II.

“NATO openly took one side in the BiH civil war through airborne operations in Republika Srpska, and affected the final outcome of the war. Depleted uranium, dropped on the territory of both Srpska and Serbia, is still killing our children, so it can be said that NATO operations have devastating effects on Republika Srpska and its people 24 years later,” Dodik told SRNA over September 9 – the Remembrance Day for victims of NATO bombing in Republika Srpska.

On the day when we remember our victims, the wounded and the sick, Dodik expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and solidarity with all those still struggling with the most serious illnesses as a result of NATO operation.

“The NATO airstrikes against Republika Srpska in the 1990s left a lasting and indelible mark on the collective consciousness of our people,” stressed the Serb member of the BiH Presidency.

The Remembrance Day for victims of NATO bombing in Republika Srpska, which killed 46 soldiers and more than 50 civilians, will be marked in East Ilidža and East Novo Sarajevo on Monday.

The Srpska Times is the first English language magazine originating from Republika Srpska with the aim, priority and objective of reporting timely, verified and accurate information on the current events, processes and attitudes (official and public opinion) in Republika Srpska